Awning



N. H. NELSON l July 2, 1929.

AWNING Filed Feb. 2:5,4 1926 Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES NELS H. NELSON, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

AWN ING.

Application led February 23, 1926. Serial No. 89,955.

The object of my invention is to provide an awning of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

More particularly, it is my purpose to provide a roller mounted flexible awning having novel means for controlling the awning and holding it in different positions of adjustment, whereby it may be variably positioned for shade and storm protection or may be used for covering and protecting a screen, or window and glass, and for controlling ventilation.

Such an awning can be used for window shades, or for porches or the like.

In this connection, it is my object to provide with the roller mounted awning, a means including members hingeable to the window frame or other rigid support to swing substantially in a half circle, by large strong hinges having projecting guide portions for holding the members properly against lateral swinging, and to provide a frame secured to the free edge of the awning, and telescopically connected with said hinged members to afford a strong reinforced frame for supporting the awning in all of its extended positions.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my awning, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed ont in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an awning embodying my invention installed on a window frame. l

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation, parts being shown in section and parts being broken away.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a'portion of the device, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section.

Figure 5 is a detail, sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged, detail, sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 1.

In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the casing for my improved awning. The casing 10 is quadrangular in cross section, as shown in Figure,4'.

Mounted on the ends of the casing are caps 11 which are fastened` to the frame 12 of a window or the like.

Received within the casing 10 is a tubular roller 13 on which is wound the awning 14. Received within the roller 13 is a shaft 15, having its ends fixed in the partitions 15a in the ends of the casing 10 by keys 15". A. coil spring 16 is mounted on the shaft 15 in the roller 13 and is connected to both of them in such manner as' to tend to normally rotate the roller to position where the awning is wound up on the roller within the casing 10.

In the bottom of the'casing 10 is a slot 17.

The free edge of the awning 14, which is of canvas or any suitable material is fastened to a binder member, comprising a tubular, cylindrical member 18, having a longitudinal slot, and having its edges adjacent the slot extended to form the parallel strips 19 'and 20. The edge of the awning 14 is ipped between the strips 19and 20, whicrare spotwelded together, as at 21, through the awning material.

The free edge portion of the awning material is extended from' the strips 19 upwardly parallel with the main body of the awning 14, as shown in Figure 6, and is then folded downwardly to overlap the outer faceof the strip 20, as at 21. The free edge, which `I have indicated generally by the reference character 22, and the folded over portion 21, and the main portion 14 of the awning vare fastened together .above the strips 19 and 2O by rows of stitches 23 and `24. This covers the outer face of the strip 2() with the canvas or other awning material, and also helps to close the slot 17 when the :awning is up.

I provide a U-shaped yoke made of a rod preferably bent and having its central lmember 25 received in the tubular member 18. (See Figures 4 and 6.)

The ends or arms 26 of the U-shaped yoke are connected with the sides'of the frame 12 in the following manner:

Secured to each side of the frame substantially below the casing 10 is a bracket hinge A. Each bracket hinge may comprise a central, deep channel 30 Vhaving the side walls Y29 bent back over on themselves as at 28 to u the tubular members 31.

make a stronger structure, and terminating in flanges 27 forming feet, which are fastened to the rigid support, such as the frame 12'.

Pivoted between the walis of each bracket A on each side of the frame by means of a pivot pin 32 is a tubular member 31 open at both ends.

The arms 26 of the U-shaped members hereinbefore referred to are slidably received in A portion of the member 18 and of the'strips 19 and 20 are cut away to leave a slot, as at 33, to receive a draft means such as a chain 34, extending around and fixed tothe rod member 25.

On the window sill 36 is a suitable projecting bracket 37' havin-g a rolfler 38 mounted therein. The chain 34 is extended under the roller 38. The bracket 37 may be provided with a notch or any suitable means may be 'afforded for'fastening the chain in different positions. v l' It Will be understood that normally the spring 16 will hold the awning wound on the roller 13 with the str-ips 19 projecting into the casing 10.

The tubular membe-r 18 is of such size compared tothe width of the slot 17 that it will not pass through the slot.

The bracket 37 projects far enough from the window frame, so that when the 'awning is wound up, the chain 34 is loutside the line X indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, between the member 25 and the pivot pin 32.

It will thus be seen th-at when the chain is -pulled downwardiy or pini-lied around the relier 38,*it'will tend to swing the rod portion 2'5'of the upper 'part of the U-shaped member downwardly and outwardly.

The arms 26 slide in the tubes 31, as the portion 25 travels in the curved path indicated by the dottedl lines 39 in Figure 2. This, of course., pulls out 'the awning, which may be ste pcd and heid in any 'posit-ion of its travel. f [he awning is shown i'n full lines in its pulled down position in Figure 2.

The spring always tends to pull the awning up fandby fastening the chain in any suitable way, the awning can be held in any of its outer positions, and will be inclined away from the4 window.

vThe lower, outer'end of the awning will -be held away from the Window in any selected position by the tubes 31.

It will be seen that in the manipulating of the awning, the arms 26 project into the tubes as far as they will go, except lwhen the awning approaches its upper limit of movement, as it is being wound into the casing 10.

The free ends of the arms '26 are limited in their movement into the tubes by the pivot pins 32. The lower end of the awning there- 'fore swings in an arc of a circle having its center 'in the iine of the axes of the pins 32, except only that when 'the tubes 31 swing upwardly until they are aligned with the slot 17,

the arms 26 slide out partly of the tubes until the tubular portion 18 is in the mouth of the slot 17.

The parts are so arranged that the arms 25 can never slide out of the tubes 31.

In the manner of spot-welding the strips 19 and 20 together with the edge of the awning between them, there is afforded a simple and speedy method of connecting the binding strip to the awning.

By folding over the portions 22, 21 and 14 in the manner shown, the metal strip is cove-red and another important beneficial result is attained. When the awning is down, shown in Figure 2, the portion folded over the metal strip sheds water and prevents water from getting into the part of the awning that is gripped between the strips 20 land 19 and causing it to rot.

This structure helps to keep water from between the strips 19 and 20 and 'avoid-s corroding them, and protects the interior of the cylindrical member 18 and the member 25 against water and rust and corrosion, which might otherwise interfere with the smooth operation of the device.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a very simple and inexpensive and eilicient mechanism for holding the lower end of the awning spaced from the window frame when the awning is pulled out.

I eliminate the necessity for using fixed tracks or guides and provide a frame with telescoping arms, which reinforce each other, so as to get the full strength of both telescoping members during all manipulation of the parts when the awning is partially or wholly drawn out.

The awning can be readily adjusted in any partially extended position, or can be drawn into the plane of the line X to protect the screen, or to protect the glass against rain or hail or to afford shelter and ventilation, even if windows are open, in case of storm., or Whenever desired.

The mounting of the member 25 in the tubu' lar portion of the binder strip affords reinforcement for the U frame. This is especially important with wide awnings, because it protects the member 25 against the tendency to bend due to the fact that the pull of the chain 54 is on the center of the member 25.

This also affords a connection between the U frame and the awning, which will not tear or pull or injure the fabric.

I have also provided a simple and effective means for connecting the awning with the binder strip and the yoke, which holds the lower end away from the window frame.

vThe casing and roller in lthemselves could be made in any suitable form for cooperation with the rest of the structure.

On the frame 12 are resilient bumpers 40, which take the impact of the member 31., if

.the chain is released and the spring allowed Cal to draw up the awning and the frame at its lower end so rapidly that` the momentum swings the members 31 against the t'rame l2. The awning remains taut at all times when open, because the spring pulls in one direction and the chain in the other direction.

It is my purpose to cover by my claims` any modified forms ot structure or use ot mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope, and within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In a device of the class described, a 'Hexible awning, a binder strip for the t'rec edge of said awning, means for connecting said edge of the awning to said binder strip, said awning being folded over at its tree end to cover one face of the binder strip for protecting said means.

2. In a device of the class described, a ilexible awning, a binder strip for the free edge ot said awning, said awning being t'olded over at its free end to cover one tace of the binder strip, and a second binder strip spot-welded to the tirst binder strip with the tree edge of the awning between the strips, the t'ree, tolded over end of said awning serving to protect spot welded connections.

3. In a device of the class described, a ilexible awning, spaced members each pivotally supported at one end, arms extending trom the t'ree end of the awning and tclescopically connected with said members, and means t'or pivotally supporting said members comprisA ing hinges formed with parallel side walls projecting out a considerable distance trom the pivots and receiving said members between them and adapted to brace the members against lateral swinging movement.

4. In a device of the class described, an awning roller support, a spring-actuated roller rotatably supported thereon, a flexible awning wound on said roller, a trame com-l prising a transverse central element rotatably connected with the free edge ot' the awning, parallel, freely telescoping side frame members extending at right angles to the central element and pivotally mounted at their ends farthest trom the awning, a drat't element connected to the transverse element of said frame for drawing it toward the pivotal connections and causing a telescoliing movement of said side frame members against the action of the spring of said roller and also for causing said side members to swing on their pivots, said draft means and spring cooperating to keep said awning in taut condition.-

5. A structure of the class described comA prising a spring actuated rolled awning, a Ytrame therefor comprising lreely telescoping side members and a cross connecting member secured to the tree end ot the rolled awning, the ends of said side members farthest from the awning being provided with a pivotal connection, draft means connected to said cross member tor drawing it toward the pivotal connection and causing a telescoping movement of said side members against the action ot' the spring in the spring actuated rolled awning, and also tor causing said side members to swing on their pivots, said draft means and said spring cooperating to keep said awning in taut condition.

6. A structure of the class described comprising a spring actuated rolled awning, a trame therefor comprising t'reely telescoping side members and a cross connecting member secured to the tree end of the rolled awning, the ends ot said side members farthest from the awning being provided with a pivotal connection, draft means connected to said ross member t'or drawing it toward the pivotal connection against the action ot the spring in the spring actuated rolled awning, such drawing causing said side members to telescope a predetermined distance and thereal'ter to swing about said pivotal connection, said dra't't means and said spring cooperating to neep said awning in taut condition.

7. A structure of the class described, comprising a spring-actuated rolled awning, a frame therefor comprising i'reely telescoping side members and a cross connecting member secured to the tree end ot the rolled awning, the ends of said side members farthest from the awningl being provided with a permanent pivotal connection, and dratt means connecth ed at one end to said cross member tor drawing it toward the pivotal connection and causing a telescoping movement ot said side menibers against the action ot' the spring ot` said awning and also tor causing said side mein bers to swing on their pivots` whereby the cross member is caused to move through an ,ai-c, said draft means and said spring cooperating to keep said awning in taut condition, together with means Yl'or securing the opposite end of said draft means.

Des Moines, Iowa, February 11, 1926.

NELS H. NELSON.

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